World Cup 2019 | India aiming to continue their unbeaten streak against Afghanistan- Live Updates

India win the toss and elect to bat first. 

Here are the Playing XI of both sides.

Match about to kickoff as Indian openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul make their way out to the middle.

India are off to a slow start. 

After 3 overs, India are 7/0.

A maiden over by Aftab Alam.

After 4 overs, India are 7/0.

Mujeeb-ur-Rahman gets rid off the dangerous Rohit Sharma.

India are 7/1.

India start accelerating as they get 14 runs off Aftab Alam's over.

After 8 overs, India are 34/1.

Kohli, Rahul rebuild for India.

After 12 overs, India are 55/1.

Skipper Virat Kohli and KL Rahul add 50 runs for the second-wicket stand.

After 13 overs, India are 59/1.

Mohammad Nabi breaks the partnership by dismissing KL Rahul for 30.

India are 64/2.

Skipper Virat Kohli's half-century restores Indian hopes.

Kohli and Shankar steady the Indian ship.

At the halfway stage, India are 115/2.

Kohli and Shankar stitch in 50-runs for the third wicket stand.

Rahmat Shah strikes back for Afghanistan with Vijay Shankar's wicket.

Indian cricket fans need not fear as of now as MS Dhoni has come out to join Virat Kohli.

After 30 overs, India are 133/3.

Captain Virat Kohli departs after a well-made 67 off 63 balls. The skipper's cut off Mohammad Nabi gets miscued as it finds Rahmat Shah at point. India in a spot of bother at 135/4 after 30.3 overs. 

MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav accelerate for India.

After 40 overs, India are 175/4.

Fifty partnership between MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav for the fifth wicket stand.

After 43 overs, India are 190/4.

India in trouble as MS Dhoni departs for 28.

India are 192/5.

Amidst the action on the field, this action off the field will surely win everyone's hearts.

Hardik Pandya's wicket disturbs India's momentum in the death overs.

Afghan skipper Naib castles Mohammed Shami.

India are 222/7.

Kedar Jadhav departs in the penultimate ball of the innings after a patient half-century.

India finish their innings at 224/8.

Can India defend this modest total? Stay tuned as the second innings begins.

Indian bowlers keeping Afghan batsmen at bay.

After 6 overs, Afghanistan are 18/0.

Mohammad Shami gets his first wicket in his first World Cup 2019 match, clean bowls Hazratullah Zazai as he attempts a slog pull. Score: 20/1 in 6.3 overs.

India eyeing for quick wickets.

After 13 overs, Afghanistan are 55/1.

India rejoice at Afghan skipper Gulbadin Naib's wicket.

Afghanistan are 64/2.

India making Afghanistan earn every single run.

After 20 overs, Afghanistan are 71/2.

Afghanistan reducing their deficit as India are gunning for quick wickets.

After 33 overs, Afghanistan are 121/4.

India strike back with Asghar Afghan's wicket.

Afghanistan are 130/5 after 35 overs.

India struggling to pick up wickets.

After 40 overs, Afghanistan are 157/5.

Hardik Pandya scalps Najibullah Zadran to put India in command

The match well poised and is heading for a tight finish.

After 45 overs, Afghanistan are 185/6.

Chahal deceives Rashid Khan. Is there a twist in the tale?

Afghanistan are 190/7.

Mohammed Shami dismisses Mohammad Nabi to end Afghan hopes.

Two in two for Shami. He cleans up Aftab Alam for a golden duck.

Shami's hat-trick scripts a win for India by 11 runs

Team India are set to meet Afghanistan in their fifth match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 on Saturday at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton. Even though India won against Pakistan convincingly, the game did come to a halt and then later the second innings and was reduced to 40 overs as India won the match by 89 runs via the DLS method. The ongoing cricket World Cup has already been the most rain-affected tournament in the history of cricket. The ICC have been criticized for not keeping reserve days for the group stage fixtures and fans have even shown disregard to England and Wales as the venue. 

India have started their World Cup campaign on a high, winning three out of their opening four games. They are yet to lose a match but were forced to share a point with New Zealand as the match was abandoned due to rain. 

Afghanistan, playing their second World Cup have not managed a single win yet and are presently sitting at the rock-bottom of the points table. There is no doubt that India will be the obvious favorites.

Weather Forecast

According to the weather forecasts, much to fans relief, the conditions will remain mostly sunny till 4.30 PM IST on Saturday. Although the weather is expected to turn cloudy, there is no hint of rainfall. The temperature is expected to be between 20 degrees Celsius to 13 degrees Celsius.The weather reports assure that it is unlikely that rain will play any part during India's clash with Afghanistan. 

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Teams

Who bats number 4? This questioning was hovering over Team India’s head before the tournament started. K L Rahul’s convincing performance in the second practice match against Bangladesh made him the top choice for number 4. But India has been having setbacks with players like Shikhar Dhawan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar suffering injuries. Sadly, Dhawan has been ruled out of the tournament and Rishab Pant has been called as a replacement. Kumar is most likely to not play for the next matches, that brings in the room for Mohammad Shami to play his first match of the tournament. The Strength and conditioning coach of team India, Mr. Shanker Basu was all praise about Shami.

“I am very impressed with Shami, this his version 2.0, training has become part of his lifestyle. He has changed his entire training regime”, said Basu during a press conference.

It will be interesting to see India’s playing eleven on Saturday.

Afghanistan lost their last game against England by 150 runs, and there is a constant buzz about the difference between the management and the coaching staff. It will be interesting to see how the team regroups for a tough match against India.

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After getting a place in Team India's World Cup squad due to Shikhar Dhawan's injury, Rishabh Pant wants to be a match-winner.

Here's what Team India's all-rounder Vijay Shankar had to say on the eve of India's match against Afghanistan.

India's opening batsman KL Rahul talks about how he started playing cricket, whom he looked up to and his love for the game.

Ahead of India's fifth World Cup game against Afghanistan, it seems as if Indian skipper Virat Kohli is calm and composed heading into the contest.

The Indian players are on their way to the ground. 

What should Team India do after winning the toss?